SOLICITATION NOTICE
76 -- Subject Indexing Services
- Notice Date
- 7/22/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 511120
— Periodical Publishers
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Acquisition and Property Division, Acquisition Branch (MD), 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 3, Mailstop: 5116, Beltsville, MD, 20705
- ZIP Code
- 20705
- Solicitation Number
- 05-3K06-107
- Response Due
- 8/1/2005
- Archive Date
- 8/16/2005
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation (number RFP 05-3K06-107) is hereby issued as a request for proposal (RFP). This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2001-27. This solicitation is being issued as a Small Business Set-Aside. The applicable NAICS code and size standard for this application is 511120. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. BACKGROUND INFORMATION-The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL) requires indexing of library materials in various published formats and media in agriculture and related sciences. The goal of indexing is to improve both the quantity and relevance of information retrieved from information systems. This is achieved by describing the subject coverage of documents using controlled vocabularies, uncontrolled subject terms and coded classification systems. The Branch selects, indexes, and inputs records into NAL; s integrated library systems, Voyager (Endeavor Information Systems, Inc.) The resulting bibliographic citations are entered into NAL?s web-based online catalog and are the basis for a variety of information products which are used internationally, e.g., AGRICOLA (AGRICultural Online Access). AGRIS and current awareness services. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS-The contractor shall create original subject indexing for complex, scientific agricultural publications. The agricultural subject areas covered by these items include: plant sciences, veterinary medicine, human nutrition and food science. Materials for indexing are usually journal articles, but may also include: conference proceedings, signed book chapters, theses and dissertations, patents, databases, datasets, images and webpage?s. Materials for indexing may be in print, audiovisual and/or electronic formats. Subject indexing performed by the contractor shall demonstrate accurate and complete subject analysis of each item. Subject indexing performed by the contractor shall thoroughly convey subject content by making appropriate use of the National Agricultural Library Thesaurus (NALT), AGRICOLA Category Codes with Scope Notes and uncontrolled subject terms. Subject indexing performed by the contractor shall be submitted to NAL as ASCII (DOS) text files generated by a Government furnished WordPerfect (tm) indexing macro. No indexing shall be performed at NAL, except as part of training or performance review. The contractor shall adhere to all NAL Building security measures including, proper identification and conduct. FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 2005) shall apply to this solicitation with the following addenda: a) Offer Submission and Due Date ? Offers are due by 1:00pm E.S.T., Monday, August 1, 2005 and shall be delivered by email to lcountee@ars.usda.gov, fax to 301-504-1717, or postal service to USDA/ARS/AFM/APD, ATTN: Lyndia V. Countee 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-5116. b) Additional Information ? please contact Lyndia V. Countee, at 301- 504-1700. c) FAR 52.233-2 Service of Protest (Aug 1996) shall apply to this solicitation with the following POC: Lyndia V. Countee, Contracting Officer, USDA/ARS/AFM/APD/AB, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-5116. d) SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS ? a) The contractor shall propose a price that is Firm-Fixed Price for the deliverables receiving Full Subject Analysis and Abbreviated Subject Analysis based on Section IV, ?PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS?. The contractor shall propose a percentage discount off of commercial pricing for each performance period. b) The contractor shall provide a list of projects similar in scope and magnitude to the work required under this Request for Proposal which the offeror has completed during the past 3 years. For each project include: (1) Name of the project, (2) Description of the work, (3) Contract Number, date, and type, (4) Name and address of the acquiring Government agency or commercial customers, (5) Initial contract amount and final contract amount, (6) Any problems encountered in performance of the work and corrective action(s) taken, and (7) Name(s) and telephone number(s) of references from the acquiring agency or customer who may be contacted for further information. c) The contractor personnel shall have at a minimum, the following education, skills, and experience: Indexers: a. A bachelor's degree and/or 4 years experience in one or more of the following agricultural disciplines: plant sciences (including forestry and crop production), veterinary medicine, human nutrition, food science, b. Three (3) years experience in database indexing, using a large (greater than 50,000 terms) agricultural controlled vocabulary, c.Two years experience in subject analysis of scientific agriculture and agriculture related journal articles.d. Proficiency in use of an IBM compatible PC and DOS and Windows software applications. e. English proficient. 2. Project Manager: a. Two (2) years project management experience, with demonstrated ability to: 1) maintain complete and accurate records of work performed, 2) submit complete, accurate and timely invoices 3) work cooperatively with the Government 4) effectively manage and coordinate workflow, 5) establish and maintain effective quality control measures b. Proficiency in use of IBM compatible PC and DOS and Windows software applications, c. Must be English proficient. FAR 52.212-2 EVALUTATION ? COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 1999) shall apply to this solicitation with the following factors used to evaluate offers: a)(1) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Technical Acceptability, Past Performance, and Price. a) (2) In order for the proposal to be considered technically acceptable, the following requirements must be met (i) It must meet or exceed the minimum specifications according to section IV?PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS?, (ii) The Government will evaluate past performance using the information provided, reports from the points of contact contacted, and other sources. In determining the rating for the past performance, the Government will give greater consideration to the contracts which are most relevant to the SOW and ratings must be ?satisfactory? or higher. An offeror failing to provide past performance information, or asserting that it has no relevant, directly related, or similar past performance will receive a neutral rating. a) (3) Technical and past performance, when combined, are more important than price. (b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (c) A written notice of award of acceptance of an offer mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offeror?s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. FAR 52.212-3 OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS ? COMMERCIAL ITEMS (MAR 2005); Offerors shall include a signed and completed copy of FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications ? Commercial Items (June 2003) with their offer. A copy of this provision is available at www.arnet.gov/far. FAR 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS ? COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2003) shall apply to this solicitation with the following addenda: a) Price Schedule - The contractor shall provide the NAL subject indexing for documents and journal articles in accordance with ?IV. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS?. Prices shall be proposed based on letter ?d), Special Instruction? of FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS ? COMMERCIAL ITEMS. b) AGAR 452.211-74 Period of Performance (Feb 1998) ? The period of performance for the base contract is: September 27, 2005 through September 26, 2006. The option year(s) period of performance (if exercised) is: Option Me - 9/27/06 through 9/26/07, Option II ? 9/27/07 through 9/26/08, Option III ? 9/27/08 through 9/26/09, Option IV ? 9/27/09 through 09/26/10. c) Ordering Procedures ? Upon Receipt of a Government requirement, and prior to shipment of any deliverables, the contractor shall submit to the Contract Administrator a price proposal using their commercial rates and any discounts previously negotiated under letter ?a)? of this section. Contracting Officer approval is required and a delivery order must be executed prior to shipment of any deliverables. d) FAR 52.216-18 Ordering (Oct 1995) with the following ordering-issuing dates: September 27, 2004 through September 26, 2005. e) FAR 52.216-19 Order Limitations (Oct 1995) with the following values inserted: minimum order - $2,500, maximum order (1) - $100,000, (2) - $100,000, (3) within 2 days. f) FAR 52.216-22 Indefinite Quantity (Oct 1995) ? ?the Contractor shall not be required to make any deliveries under this contract after the period of performance. g) AGAR 452.247-70 Delivery Location (Feb 1988) ? Shipment of deliverable items shall be to: USDA/ARS/NAL/TSD, 10301 Baltimore Blvd., Room 002, Beltsville, MD 20705-2351. h) AGAR 452.237-74 Key Personnel (Feb 1998) ? Names will be inserted upon award i)Invoicing ? in accordance with FAR 52.212-4(g)(1), the Contractor shall submit an original invoice and 3 copies to the following Government address: ATTN: Lyndia v. Countee, Contracting Officer, USDA/ARS/AFM/APD/AB, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-5116. j) Contract Administration - The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to approve any changes in the scope of work of this contract. The authority remains solely with the Contracting Officer. In the event the Contractor effects any changes at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the changes will be considered to have been made WITHOUT authority and NO adjustment will be made in the contract price to cover any INCREASE incurred as a result thereof. Contracting Officer ? Lyndia V. Countee, USDA/ARS/AFM/APD/AB, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-5116; Contract and Delivery Order Administrator ? Lyndia V. Countee, USDA/ARS/AFM/APD/AB, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-5116; Contracting Officer?s Representative (COR) ? Name to be inserted at time of award. k) FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 2000) with the following dates: ?written notice to the Contractor within 30 calendar days, ?preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 60 days before the contract expires, ?shall not exceed 5 years. l) Additional Provisions and Clauses ? The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.203-11 Certification and Disclosure Regarding Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions (Apr 1991), FAR 52.203-12 Limitation on Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions (June 2003), 52.204-7 Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003), FAR 52.239-1 Privacy or Security Safeguards (Aug 1996), FAR 52.244-6 Subcontracts for Commercial Items (Apr 2003), FAR 52.247-34 F.O.B. Destination (Nov 1991). FAR 52.212-5 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JULY 2005) applies to this acquisition with the following applicable clauses: FAR 52.203-6 Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Jul 1995), with Alternate I (Oct 1995)(41 U.S.C. 253g and 10 U.S.C. 2402), FAR 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns (May 2004)(15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3), FAR 52.222-3 Convict Labor (June 2003)(E.O. 11755), FAR 52.222-19 Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (June 2004)(E.O. 13126), FAR 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999), FAR 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (Apr 2002)(E.O. 11246), FAR 52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Dec 2001)(38 U.S.C. 4212), FAR 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Jun 1998)(29 U.S.C. 793), FAR 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era and Other Eligible Veterans (Dec 2001)(38 U.S.C. 4212), FAR 52.225-1 Buy American Act ? Supplies (June 2003)(41 U.S.C. 10a-10d), FAR 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Dec 2003)(E.o.s. proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of Treasury), FAR 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (OCT 2003)(31 U.S.C. 3332). OFFER DUE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE ? Offers are due by 1:00pm, Monday, August 1, 2005 and may be received by email to lcountee@ars.usda.gov fax at 301-504-1717, or postal service to USDA/ARS/AFM/APD/AB, ATTN: Lyndia V. Countee, Beltsville, MD 20705-5116. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ? For additional information, or to obtain copies of the attachments, please contact Lyndia V. Countee, Contract Specialist by phone at 301-504-1700, or by email at lcountee@ars.usda.gov.
- Place of Performance
- Address: USDA/ARS/NAL/TSD 10301 Baltimore Ave.,Rm. 011 Beltsville, MD
- Zip Code: 20705
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 20705
- Record
- SN00852656-W 20050724/050722211641 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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